A wide range of literature documents the different models of midwifery care that have underpinned midwifery practice over the past few decades. Much debate has resulted from these publications (Hatem et al. 2008; McLachlan et al. 2012; Walsh and Devane 2012; Tracy et al. 2013; Sandall et al. 2015; Brady et al. 2019; Gidaszewski et al. 2019). The recommendations in the Five Year Forward View for Implementing Better Births: Continuity of Carer (NHS England 2017) suggest two models that could be most effective in promoting this concept: team continuity and case loading. Much of the literature available presents benefits but also highlights the impact that these models of care can have on midwives attempting to delivery maternity services with the capacity to be ‘with woman’ (Leinweber and Rowe 2010; Yoshida and Sandall 2013; Davis and Homer 2016; Bradfield et al. 2018b). Ultimately, the aim is to ensure safe and personalised care to meet all women's needs, whatever their circumstances, through the most effective midwifery model of care. I see the ‘with woman’ concept as the fundamental building block for these recommendations and in a sense it has always been the true philosophy underpinning holistic midwifery practice.
The thread of being ‘with woman’ is explored in each chapter in this textbook through an examination of the literature focused on an aspect or situation in the journey of childbearing women or their neonate. The different chapters explore attributes of the concept to be ‘with woman’ to bring together a more in‐depth understanding, thus generating discussion of what this concept means to women and midwives in differing situations and environments. The aim of each chapter is to illustrate the different attributes of the overall ‘with woman’ concept. The objective is to generate debate and discussion in a classroom or clinical setting to further examine current practice and create a space in which contemporary practice could be developed to inform future midwifery care.
Chapters explore the focused literature for a specific aspect of midwifery care; for example, pregnant women in prison and the maternity care that is available to them. Rodgers' phases of Evolutionary Concept Analysis (1989, Rodgers and Knafl 2000) will be the framework on which each chapter is based to identify attributes of the concept (Foster 2017) and it provides a different perspective from which the evidence can be explored. Integral to each chapter, individual situations will be illustrated with examples from practice. The reality and feasibility of being ‘with woman’ in a variety of situations is illustrated by midwives from their daily clinical experiences. Women are also invited to share their stories, which will help to analyse the concept of interest pertinent to these women's needs and the focus of each specific chapter. An asterisk next to the midwife/woman's name indicates a changed given name to maintain anonymity.
This textbook seeks to present the evidence of ‘with woman’ in different circumstances and viewed from women's and midwives' perspectives, to engender understanding and learning and ensure better births for all women. In addition, I believe that the content will inform and re‐ignite the passion for midwifery, in students and midwives, which sadly has seen a decline in the last two decades. Students engaging with the content will develop reflective skills to successfully inform their knowledge and clinical competence. I hope that the content is relevant to practitioners and those interested in women's position in society, those interested in women's human rights around birth and motherhood and those who strive to promote the legalisation and protection of the midwifery profession.
References
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2 Bradfield, Z., Duggan, R., Hauck, Y., and Kelly, M. (2018a). Midwives being “with woman”: an integrative review. Women and Birth 31: 143–152.
3 Bradfield, Z., Kelly, M., Hauck, Y., and Duggan, R. (2018b). Midwives “with woman” in the private obstetric model: where divergent philosophies meet. Women and Birth http://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2018.07.013.
4 Brady, S., Lee, N., Gibbons, K., and Bogossian, F. (2019). Women‐centred care: an integrative review of the empirical literature. International Journal of Nursing Studies 94: 107–119.
5 Dahlberg, U. and Aune, I. (2013). The woman's birth experience‐ the effects of interpersonal relationships and continuity of care. Midwifery 29: 407–415.
6 Davis, D.L. and Homer, C.S.E. (2016). Birthplace as the midwife's work place: how does place of birth impact on midwives? Women and Birth 29: 407–415.
7 Foster, J. (2017). Using research to advance nursing practice: a guide to concept analysis. Clinical Nurse Specialist 31 (2): 70–73. http://www.cns‐journal.com.
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